PulseTrendingJournal ClubResearchersJournalsExplore
Instagram
HomeTrendingJournal ClubExplore
Synapse
⌘+K
Synapse
September 7, 2016Journal of Traumatic StressOpen Access

Circadian Contrasts in Heart Rate Variability Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in a Young Adult Cohort

View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share

Why the study?

Does high PTSD symptom severity reduce heart rate variability during sleep in young adults?

Population

209 young adults, including 95 who met full criteria for current PTSD. 105 women. Exclusions included…

Comparison

High PTSD symptom severity vs Low PTSD symptom severity

Design

Cross-sectional

Follow-up

approximately 24 hours

Key result

Individuals with high PTSD symptom severity exhibited lower high-frequency heart rate variability than individuals with low PTSD symptom severity during periods of sleep.

Authors

MRMichelle RisslingPDPaul A. DennisLWLana L. Watkins

Discussion

Loading...

Member takes

Overview

High PTSD symptoms were associated with lower sleep HRV; hypothesis-generating for CV vulnerability and requires prospective confirmation.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=209)

Multicenter

Yes

Structured PICO

Does high PTSD symptom severity reduce heart rate variability during sleep in young adults?

P
Population
209 young adults (18-39 years old), including 95 who met full criteria for current PTSD. 105 women. Exclusions included organic mental disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, lifetime PTSD without current PTSD, current substance abuse, current major depressive disorder without PTSD, pregnancy, HIV, and uncontrolled medical conditions.
I
Intervention
High PTSD symptom severity (assessed via Davidson Trauma Scale and Clinician Administered PTSD Scale)
C
Comparator
Low PTSD symptom severity
O
Outcome
High-frequency (HF) and low-frequency (LF) heart rate variability (HRV) amplitude during periods of wake, rest, and sleep measured via 24-hour ambulatory ECG and actigraphysurrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: Cohen's d = 0.12

p-value: p=0.028

Elevated PTSD symptoms are associated with decreased parasympathetic cardiac control (lower high-frequency HRV) specifically during sleep, suggesting a period of increased cardiovascular vulnerability.

Limitations

  • Cross-sectional design prevents identification of the temporal pattern of change between PTSD and reduced HRV.
  • Study sample was relatively young, gender- and minority-balanced, and predominantly civilian as opposed to veteran.
  • Polysomnography was not utilized, preventing differentiation of REM and non-REM sleep and detection of sleep-disordered breathing.
  • Cross-sectional design prevents identification of the temporal pattern of change between PTSD and reduced HRV
  • Imbalance between groups with regard to Veteran status
  • Lack of polysomnography to differentiate REM and non-REM sleep and detect sleep-disordered breathing

Cite This Study

Rissling et al. (2016) conducted a cross-sectional in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (n=209). High PTSD symptom severity vs. Low PTSD symptom severity was evaluated on High-frequency heart rate variability (HF HRV) during sleep (Cohen's d = 0.12, p=0.028). Individuals with high PTSD symptom severity exhibited lower high-frequency heart rate variability than individuals with low PTSD symptom severity during periods of sleep.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a11147a70911b0acef32a42https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22125
View Full Paper
Ask AI
Bookmark
Share